Leaders and Legends

It was 80 years ago today, on V-J Day aboard the USS Missouri, that the government of Japan surrendered to the United States and other Allied countries. But why on this day? Why not sooner? Or Later? On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Richard Frank, the preeminent historian on the end of the Asian Pacific War, and he answers these questions, details the decision behind using the atomic bombs, and more. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish kick off their 2025 football season on August 31st against the U. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Pete Sampson, ND beat writer for The Athletic. We discuss the upcoming season, former Coach Brian Kelly’s controversial tenure, and a little bit of Notre Dame history. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the most respected and fun members of the Hoosier world of media is our guest on this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Lesley Weidenbener is editor and assistant publisher for the Indianapolis Business Journal and the Indiana Lawyer. Jim Shella joins us for the conversation & a fun “Five Questions." About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On a special “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview New York Times best-selling author and sports journalism titan Christine Brennan about her phenomenal new book “On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On August 4, 1914, Great Britain declared war on Imperial Germany thus changing the dynamics of modern history. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss the western front during World War I with historian Nick Lloyd. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On July 28, 1914, the Great War began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand a month earlier. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss the beginning of the war and the march of folly in Russia, the Balkans, and beyond with Professor Nick Lloyd, author of “The Eastern Front: A History of the Great War, 1914-1918" About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades Indiana has been at the center of the education reform movement—and two of the main reasons are this week’s guests on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Claire Fiddian-Green is president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and Maureen Weber is the president and CEO of Early Learning Indiana. Want to know what’s next for Hoosier education and students? Claire and Maureen take us there. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the wonderful things about Indianapolis is our ability to attract world-class experts and executives from all over the world. For example, on this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with Dr. Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of The Indianapolis Zoo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How exactly did the American colonists decide to move beyond protest to a historic bid for separation from Great Britain? On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss this question and more with Tom McMillan, author of “The Year that Made America: From Rebellion to Independence, 1775-1776” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We bookend the Independence Day holiday with two podcasts about our nation’s victorious struggle against the Mother Country. First up is U.S. Army War College historian Kevin J. Weddle to discuss his landmark book “The Compleat Victory: Saratoga and the American Revolution.” It is the most important land battle in the history of the United States and receives marvelous treatment in Professor Weddle’s effort. How did the colonists win the American Revolutionary War? It’s starts right here. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Bopp is one of most successful and respected attorneys in the United States. Not only has he argued (and won) several cases before the United States Supreme Court, but he was also recently named by Governor Mike Braun as a trustee of Indiana University. On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Bopp joins us to discuss his career, his roots in Terre Haute, and how much he is looking forward to serving his alma mater. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In anticipation of Mayor Greg Ballard’s book release later this year, we are reposting our very first “Leaders and Legends” podcast featuring one of the greatest men I've ever met. From Cathedral to IU and the Marine Corps to the mayor’s office, this Hoosier has always put his fellow citizens first. Be ready for a two-part interview with him after his book is published. Simply put: he changed my life. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 is one of the pivotal events in world history—but how did it happen? Who made it happen? And what did its success mean for the future of the United States? On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Michel Paradis, author of “The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower” who answers all these questions for us and more. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

War, religion, and politics make for a toxic brew. During the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln navigated each one separately and all of them together. On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview distinguished Lincoln scholar and Oxford Emeritus Professor Richard Carwardine about his penetrating new book, “Righteous Strife: How Warring Religious Nationalists Forged Lincoln’s Union” About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She is one of the most respected (and certainly the bravest) public spokespersons in the Hoosier State. Chief Rita Reith is our guest for this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Rita’s career and family history are fascinating, and we are grateful to her for sitting down with us. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Angela Ganote is one of the most recognized and respected members of the Hoosier news media—she is also our guest on this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss her dominance of social media, her love for the IU Hoosiers, and some of her most favorite stories. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leon Panetta has served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, secretary of defense and CIA director for President Barack Obama, and he’s this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss his fascinating career, his thoughts on his Hoosier friends in Congress, and the details surrounding the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. He also answers our Five Questions. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

United States Senator Jim Banks’ lifetime of public service (and the votes of more than 1.6 million Hoosiers) has taken him to Washington, D.C. On this week's leaders and ”Leaders and Legends” podcast, we have a conversation with Senator Banks about his service to Indiana, service in Afghanistan, and his love for the Counting Crows and other concerts. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Ken Britt is the Chief Operating Officer and Chancellor of Marian University—he is also this week's guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Ken’s leadership remains instrumental in Marian’s amazing transformation during the past few decades (under the phenomenal Dan Elsener). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stephen Goldsmith served as the 46th mayor of Indianapolis and remains a model of leadership for innovative, accountable governance. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Jim Shella and I interview the former mayor about his successful and impactful public service career. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Veteran Strategies—your local veteran business enterprise specializing in media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, and digital photography. Learn more at www.veteranstrategies.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.